Hand Foot and Mouth Disease

As fall settles in, certain viruses become more prevalent. Hand Foot and Mouth Disease is one of these viruses. It can affect any age but seems to have a preference for toddlers and preschool age children.  It usually starts out with low grade fever 100-101 and a sore throat.  A pre-verbal child is most likely to present with fussiness, crankiness and decreased appetite. The mouth sores usually develop either at the same time as the fever or shortly thereafter and then a distinctive rash develops. The palms and soles are affected with small red blisters.  Sometimes there can also be a more generalized body rash as well.
As with most viruses, this one needs time to run its course. Supportive measures are recommended such as increased fluids and pain control. It usually takes about a week to resolve. Children are considered contagious until the blisters have begun to fade. Contact your child’s doctor if the fever persists beyond three days or if your child is not eating, drinking or making urine.